Stringed musical instrument



Oct. 28 1924- H. CREMER STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Sent. 24. 1921 fave/2507? I m QM:

Patented Oct. 28, 1924.

UNITED STATES HENRY CREMER, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY CREMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at 5824 Ridge Ave, in Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to stringed instruments played by hand or how as :violin, violoncello, guitar etc. and has for its object 1. To provide the interior of stringed musical instrument with abridge combining a soundpost holder and string holder independent of top, bottom, back or front to support a soundpost, to give free and unrestricted action to the bacl: or bottom of the instrument and to brace or support interiorly located resonance strings to procure a variety of character in tone.

2, To improve the resonance of the in strument.

3. To regulate the vibration of the instrument and to soften the tone.

4. To improve the bril iancy of the tone.

5. To improve the carrying power of the tone.

I attain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the specification.

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a violin with the top or resonance board partly removed to show the interiorly located bridge soundpost and strings in their relative position.

Fig. 2 represents a sectional side view of a violin cut at a dotted line a-a showing the interiorly located bridge, strings and soundpost in their respective location in relation to the exteriorly disposed members.

.Fig. 3 represents a perspective top view of the interior of a violin, showing the interior strings braced by the interiorly located bridge in relation to unbraced strings passing over said bridge.

Fig. 4 represents a cross-section of a violin showing the interiorly located bridge and strings in relation to top and bottom of the instrument.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the interiorly located bridge showing a horizontal member in connection with a vertical member.

Fig. 6 is a side View of the interiorly 10- Application filed September 24, 1921. Serial No. 503,071.

cated bridge showing the racked or saw edge of the vertical member.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the interiorly located b idge, showing the horizontal memher and tapered vertical member.

Referring to numerals1 is a T-shaped bridge preferably made of wood which consists of two members of which one is horizontally disposed to constitute a platform 2 on which a soundpost 4 may be placed, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and the other member designates a bar 3 being vertically projected from said platform 2 toward the back of the instrument to brace strings as shown in Figs. 2, 4, 6, 7. Said bar 3 being provided with a sawlike edge 6 to prevent the strings 5 which may pass underneath from slipping out of their location, as shown .1 Figs. 1, 8, 4. Said bridge 1 being transversely located near the center of the instrument and with both ends of the platform 2 secured to the sides or ribs 7 of the instrument independent of top and back, as shown in Fig. 4. The hollow body of the instrument being provided with a plurality of strings 5 and 8 of which a number may pass underneath the interior bridge and'the remainder above through the hollow body, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4. To fasten the interior strings outwardly of the instrument, the sides 7 are provided with apertures 9, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4.

To carryout my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, I have an exteriorly stringed musical instrument with a. hollow'body provided with an interiorly located bridge which spans the interior from side to side preferably near the center of the instrument, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Said bridge being T-shaped in cross section, as shown in Fig. 7, consists of a horizontally disposed platform, and a bar vertically projected from said platform toward the back of the instrument.

The reason for having the bridge T shaped is to construct a soundpost holder in combination with a string holder. The interior of the instrument being also provided with a plurality of strings of which a number may pass underneath the interior bridge and the remaining number may pass above the level of said bridge through the holiow body.

The interiorly located strings are shown in the accompanying drawing running length wise with the instrument transverse to the interior bridge, but itis obvious that the unbrac'ed interior strings do not necessarily have to cross said bridge, and can be arran 'ed in any convenient angle and direction To facilitate the fastening of said strings, I have the instrument iprovided with suitable apertures on opposite sides through which the interior strings may pass from side to side, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3. After those strings are placed in their rel ative position, theyniay be fastened to the outside of the instrument and'tuned by suitable means as taperpins or pegswhich' are seated in an outwardly projecting attach ment, as shown in Fig. 2,

Said. interior br'dge being transversely located near the vcenter of the instrument and with both nds of its platform connected to the sides of the hollow body, and arranged'so astoleave free space above. the platformland underneath the bar of said bridge for strings to pass through, and to carry a sound'post, asshown in Figs. 1, :2, 3, 4. I The strings which may pass underneath are braced by said bridge and those above are unbraced. V

V It will be 'seen that by placing the interior bridge nea'rthe center of the instruinent, the strings passing underneath are divided in two sections of different lengths, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, to produce two different notes on each. string braced by said bridge. The variety of character in tone thus produced. improves the resonance and likewise thepower of tone.

Said bar 3 of the interior bridge being vertically projected from said platform toward theback of the instrumentis shorter than said platform 2' and lengthwise connected thereto from underneath so as to leave part of the platform free at both ends to improvethe vibration of said platform and theresona-nce of those strings which may pass underneath, as shown in Figs.

3, i, 6: y s

Said bar 3, as shown in Figs. l, 6, '7, is taperedin cross sectionfiand longitudinal section. The reason for having said bar taperedin cross section is to provide a seat of suitable thickness to improve the brilliancy of tone in those strings to pass underneath','and it is tapered in longitudinal section to improve the sonorousness oftone. flofjpreven t' these strings which may pass i' nderneath said bar from slipping out of their location, this bar is provided with a sawlijke edge. as shown in F igs, 2, 43, 5, 6.

, If the exteriorly disposed strings of an instrument of the cl'a's's described are struck han'cl ,or bow they will be caused to vibratewliiclr setsthe sound waves in motion. Their vibration excites theinterior- 1y ated strings which according to their tuning their individual tone and terminates sound eziteri 'orly generated to increased or prolonged radiance; The tension of the interior-1y located strings acts in conjunction with the interiorly located bridge and soundpost on the top or resonance board of the instrument with the effect of counter-balancing the pressure of the exteriorly disposed strings and bridge whereby the vibration of the top or resonance board can be regulated according to the pitch and number of the interiorly located strings to soften and purify the tone. The unrestricted action of the back of the iustrument in combination with the'increased i platform horizontally disposed and transversely located near the center of the instrument and with both ends connected to the sides thereof, and said string holder designating a bar being vertically projectedfrom said platform toward the back of the'instrument and lengthwise connected to the plat.- form from underneath. l

2. Ina stringed musical instrument the hollow body with exteriorly disposed play strings and a soundpostin combination with an interiorly located T shaped brid'ge'combining a soundpost holder with a string holder; said soundpost holder .con'stituting a platform horizontally disposed and transversely located near the center ofthe i1'1strument and with both ends connected to the sides thereof, and said string holder designating a bar being shorter than saidp'l'atform, vertically projected therefrom toward the back of the instrument and lengthwise connected to" the latform from underneath.

3. In a' stringed musical instrument the hollow body with exteriorly disposed play strings and a soundpost in combination with an interiorly located T shaped bridge combini'ng a soundpost holder-'with a string holder; said soundpost holder constituting a platform horizontally disposed and transversely located nearthe center ofthe instrument and with both ends connected to the sides thereof, and said' string holder designating a bar being shorter than said platform, V tapered in cross section, vertically projected from said platform toward the back of the instrument,- and lengthwise connected thereto from underneath.

4, In a stringed musical instrument" the hollow" body with exteriorly' disposed play strings and a soundpost in combination with an interiorly located T shaped bridge combining a soundpostholder with a string holder; said soundpost holder constituting a platform horizontally disposed and transversely located near the center of the instrument and with both ends connected to the sides thereof, and said string holder designating a bar being shorter than said platform, tapered in cross and longitudinal section, vertically projected from said platform toward the back of the instrument and lengthwise connected thereto from underneath.

5. In a stringed musical instrument the hollow body with exteriorly disposed play strings, a soundpost and an unobstructed back in combination with an interiorly located T shaped bridge combining a soundpost holder with a string holder; said soundpost holder constituting a platform horizontally disposed and transversely located near the center of the instrument and with both ends connected to the sides thereof, and said string holder designating a bar being shorter than said platform, tapered in cross and longitudinal section, vertically projected from said platform toward the back of the instrument and lengthwise connected to the platform from underneath.

6. In a stringed musicalinstrument the hollow body with exteriorly disposed play strings, a soundpost, an unobstructed back and an exteriorly located detachable bridge in combination with an interiorly located 7 T shaped bridge combining a soundpost holder with a string holder; said soundpost holder constituting a platform horizontally disposed and transversely located near the center of the instrument and with both ends connected to the sides thereof, and said string holder designating a bar being shorter than said platform, tapered in cross and longitudinal section, vertically projected from said platform toward the back of the instrument and lengthwise connected to the plat-form from underneath.

7. In a stringed musical instrument the hollow body wit-h exteriorly disposed play strings, a, soundpost, an unobstructed back, an exteriorly located detachable bridge and interiorly located strings in combination with an interiorly located T shaped bridge combining a soundpost holder with astring holder; said soundpost holder constituting a platform horizontally disposed and transversely located near the center of the instrument and with both ends connected to the sides thereof, and said string holder designating a bar being shorter than said platform, tapered in cross and longitudinal section, vertically projected from said platform toward the back of the instrument and lengthwise connected to the platform from underneath.

8. In a stringed musical instrument having a hollow body the construction of an interiorly located T shaped bridge combining a horizontally disposed platform to carry a soundpost with a bar vertically projected from said platform to brace strings; said bar being shorter than said platform, tapered in cross and longitudinal section and provided with a sawlike edge, and being lengthwise connected to said platform from underneath; said bridge being transversely located near the center of the instrument and with both ends of the platform connected to the sides thereof.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

HENRY CREMER. 

